Lesson 9 Consumerist Culture KSEEB SSLC CLASS 10 ENGLISH SOLUTIONS
Lesson 9 Consumerist Culture KSEEB SSLC CLASS 10 ENGLISH SOLUTIONS English medium Karnataka state board,the Answers Are Prepared By Our Teachers Which Are Simple ,Pointwise,Easy To Read And Remember.
Lesson 9 Consumerist Culture KSEEB SSLC CLASS 10 ENGLISH SOLUTIONS
II.COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS :
A.Answer the following questions briefly :
1.The writer refers to the catchy phrase, “shop till you drop” in an advertisement.
a.What is the meaning intended by the advertisers?
– The advertisers mean to encourage people to shop excessively until they are exhausted.
b.Why does the writer call this apt and ironic?
– The phrase is apt because it reflects excessive shopping, and ironic because it highlights the mindless consumption promoted by media.
c.Which word shows that the writer is condemning consumerism?
– The word “mania” shows the writer is condemning consumerism.
2.In the very first paragraph, the writer makes it clear that
a.he supports shopping and shopping malls.
b.he is very critical of them.
3.The writer puts Pepsi, Coca Cola and other “artificially coloured, flavoured and sweetened water” under absolutely unessential to human health and happiness.
a.Do you agree with his view?
– Yes, these drinks have no nutritive value and can harm health.
b.List any five such articles/gadgets/food items which your family has been using at home and which are not absolutely essential for your health and happiness.
– Soft drinks, junk food, video games, fancy cosmetics, designer clothes.
- What is the success story of Pepsi and Coca-Cola?
– Pepsi and Coca-Cola are sold worldwide, even in remote areas, and generate billions of dollars in revenue.
- The second paragraph ends with “a seemingly never-ending list.” What ‘list’ is the writer talking about?
– The list of unnecessary products like cigarettes, liquor, hamburgers, fried chicken, cosmetics, and fashion wear.
6.a. What phrase does the writer use in paragraph 3 to refer to an advertisement?
– “Machinery of persuasion.”
b.What does an advertisement aim to do?
– Advertisements aim to generate demand for products.
- In the writer’s opinion, shopping has become…(complete the sentence)
“more than a need; it has become the chief form of entertainment and an obsessive compulsion.”
- What thrills the present-day Indian shoppers?
– The wide variety of choices available, similar to what people in the West have enjoyed.
- What was the “dream come true” for the US returned Indian?
– The availability of numerous flavors of ice-cream in India, similar to the US.
10.In the sentence, “And they take to it like ducks to water” (paragraph 5
a.Who do “they” refer to?
– The upper middle classes in India.
b.What does “it” refer to?
– The high-consumption lifestyles of the First World.
c.What does “like ducks to water” mean?
– It means adapting very easily and naturally.
- Does the writer approve of the attitude of the Indians spoken of in paragraph 5?
– No, the writer criticizes their fascination with material abundance.
12.a. What is the “deep irony” referred to in paragraph 6?
– Private prosperity grows while public resources diminish.
b.Substantiate your answer with any one example from the paragraph.
– New car models are available, but city roads are in poor condition.
13.a. What is the trend referred to in paragraph 6?
– The trend of privatizing essential services.
b.Who does the trend benefit?
– The trend benefits companies making profits.
c.What is the impact of the trend on the poor?
– The poor are forced to buy expensive goods and services.
14.a. What are the advertisers and marketing professionals working hard at?
– They are working hard to make even the poorest people passive consumers.
b.How will it affect our villagers?
– Villagers will prefer branded products over traditional ones, like Coke instead of tender coconut water.
c.What impact will it have on our environment?
– Increased plastic garbage in rural areas.
15.a. What kind of vision do the enthusiasts of the free market economy have for India?
– They envision India becoming like the US, with high consumption and branded products everywhere.
b.Do you like India to become another US? Why? Why not?
– No, because it would lead to environmental damage and loss of cultural identity.
c.What negative impact will the free-market economy have on our country?
– It will cause ecological damage and make India overly consumerist.
- Why does the writer say that the model of development based on consumerism is suicidal?
– Because it leads to ecological destruction and is unsustainable.
- What, according to the writer, is the only way to restore sanity?
– Local communities, cooperatives, civil societies, and democratic governments must reclaim their autonomy and initiative for development.
- As one of the remedies to the mess we have created, the writer suggests a re-awakening. What does he want to re-awaken?
– The writer wants to re-awaken spiritual values and wisdom traditions.
- Go back to the advertiser’s catchy phrase, “Shop till you drop” in the first paragraph.
a.What was the intended meaning of the advertisers?
– The intended meaning was to encourage endless shopping.
b.How does the writer interpret its meaning in the last paragraph?
– The writer interprets it as a warning of the dangers of unrestricted consumerism.
c.Now, explain why the writer calls this apt and ironic.
– It is apt because it describes excessive shopping, and ironic because it highlights the negative consequences of consumerism.
- Do you like this article? Why? Why not?
– Yes, because it makes us aware of the dangers of consumerism and the need for sustainable development.
- Read paragraph 4 carefully and match the statements under A with the examples given under B.
| A | B |
| 1. Shopping has become more than a need | I was so impressed by this latest version of the smart phone that I bought it using my credit card. |
| 2. It has become an obsessive compulsion over which we have no control | I spend my weekend evenings in the nearby Mall |
| 3. Shopping is an end in itself | Buying additional pairs of branded shoes because they are on 50% off sale |
| 4. It has become a form of entertainment | I enjoy shopping |
B.Close Study
Read the following extracts carefully. Discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below:
1.It is to actualize this vision that millions of our youth are rushing to get their MBA degrees.
a) What is the vision referred to here?
– The vision is making India look like the United States with high consumption lifestyles, including two cars in every garage and McDonald’s and Pepsi signs everywhere.
b) When the vision is actualized, what will India be referred to as?
– India will be referred to as a “developed” country.
c) Is the writer critical of or admiring our youth who are rushing to get their MBA degrees?
– The writer is critical of our youth rushing to get their MBA degrees.
2.It is not a wise thing to hand over the task of ruling the world to businessmen as we have just done today.
a) Why shouldn’t the businessmen be given the task of ruling the world?
– Businessmen shouldn’t rule the world because they focus on maximizing profits, not on the welfare of humanity or the health of the planet.
b) What are they mainly trained for?
– They are mainly trained to maximize profits for their corporations.
c) According to the writer, what is the way to restore sanity?
– The way to restore sanity is for local communities, cooperatives, civil societies, and democratic governments to take back control and focus on sustainable development and the well-being of humanity.
III. PARAGRAPH WRITING :
Discuss in pairs/groups of four each, the answers to the following questions. Note down the important points for each question and then develop the points into one-paragraph answers:
1.Man today is an unstoppable buying machine. Elucidate with examples.
ANSWER;-
– Man is consumed by media-driven shopping mania.
– Vast amounts of money spent on global advertising.
– Example: McDonald’s spends $1.4 billion on ads annually.
– Shopping is now a primary entertainment form.
– Americans spend half their leisure time shopping.
– Indian shoppers now enjoy vast choices similar to the West.
– Example: 83 ice cream flavors in the US, a dream come true in India.
2.Write a short note on the views expressed by the writer on the tragic comedy of ‘development’. Why does he call it tragic comedy?
ANSWER;-
– Development leads to private prosperity but public impoverishment.
– Examples: New car models but deteriorating roads, luxury resorts but shrinking parks.
– Essential services like healthcare and education are pushed into the private sector.
– Poor people forced to buy expensive goods.
– Advertisers target rural populations for profit.
– Writer calls it tragic because it harms public resources; comedic due to its absurdity.
3.Do you personally share the concerns raised by the writer here? If ‘yes’, what individual initiative can you take about this matter?
ANSWER;-
– Yes, I share the writer’s concerns.
– Individual actions:
– Choose essential over excessive consumption.
– Support local businesses and sustainable products.
– Raise awareness about the ecological impact of consumerism.
– Advocate for community-based development.
– Promote and participate in recycling and conservation efforts
IV.VOCABULARY
A.Select from the box, two synonyms for the words given below:
display, different, come up, tempt, plentiful, varied, broadcast, attract, excessive, develop, bear, existence, perplexing, unheard of, support, singular, forceful, confusing, pushing, survival.
ANSWER;-
- lure : tempt, attract
- abundant : plentiful, excessive
- sprout : come up, develop
- diverse : varied, different
- advertise : broadcast, display
- bewildering : perplexing, confusing
- unprecedented : unheard of, singular
- subsistence: existence, survival
- aggressive : forceful, pushing
- 10. sustain : support, bear
B . Find out from the lesson, one word for the following definitions.
ANSWERS;
- the preoccupation of society with buying goods consumerism
- goods for sale: merchandise
- borderless economic order: globalised
- foreign trading companies which export capital along with their products: multinational corporations
- anything that is meant for the public: public realm
C. Fill in the blanks with the opposites of the words given in brackets
ANSWERS;-
In a largely uncertain (certain) world, even with gold prices moving upwards, the craze for the yellow metal remains unabated (abated). A key reason is the disenchantment (enchantment) with other investments. A large percentage of savings are held in unproductive (productive) gold assets and a lot of banks and non-banking (banking) companies are offering loans against gold. But the supply is sadly inadequate (adequate), in spite of unbridled (bridled) mining. Gold attracts unwanted (wanted) attention and is its major disadvantage(advantage). So, do you feel that gold is non-essential? (essential).
D.Bring out the difference in meaning between the words in pairs, by using each of the following in sentences of your own
ANSWERS;
- present (n)– presence
– Present (n): She received a beautiful present for her birthday.
– Presence: His presence at the meeting was greatly appreciated.
- cloth – clothes
– Cloth: She used a soft cloth to clean the table.
– Clothes: She bought new clothes for the party.
- later – latter
– Later: I will finish my homework later in the evening.
– Latter: Of the two options, I prefer the latter.
- alternate – alternative
– Alternate: They decided to take alternate routes to avoid traffic.
– Alternative: We need to find an alternative solution to the problem.
- decent – descent
– Decent: He wore a decent suit for the interview.
– Descent: The descent from the mountain was steep and challenging.
- lonely – alone
– Lonely: She felt lonely in the new city without any friends.
– Alone: He wanted to be alone to concentrate on his work.
- career – carrier
– Career: She had a successful career in medicine.
– **Carrier**: The truck is a carrier for heavy goods.
- advice – advise
– Advice: She gave him good advice about his studies.
– Advise: I advise you to check the weather before going out.
E.Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idioms given in the box.
ANSWERS:-
- All his relatives made fun of Charles when his grandmother left him only her old wooden box, but he had the last laugh. It contained all her savings.
- We have been trying all day to find a solution to this problem, but we just keep going around in circles.
- Sriram seems to have fully recovered from his illness. When I saw him, he was full of beans.
- He has had a successful career, partly because he always jumped on the bandwagon at the correct time.
- Even in the middle of the fire, he kept a level head, and saved many lives.
- The minister said he would leave no stone unturned in his attempts to improve the standard of education.
F.“These sellers of coloured, sweetened water are giant multinational corporations…” “multinational” means foreign manufacturing and trading companies. The prefix “multi” – means many, more than one. With the help of a dictionary, find out the meaning of the following “multi”-words. multimedia, multicultural, multifaceted, multilingual, multifarious, multilateral, multimillionaire.
ANSWERS:-
- Multimedia: Using more than one medium of expression or communication.
- Multicultural: Relating to or representing several different cultures or cultural elements.
- Multifaceted: Having many aspects or sides.
- Multilingual: Able to speak and understand several languages.
- Multifarious: Having many varied parts or aspects.
- Multilateral: Agreed upon or participated in by three or more parties, especially the governments of different countries.
- Multimillionaire: A person with assets worth several million dollars or other currency.
V.LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES: Group Discussion
ANSWERS;-
These are great topics for group discussions! Here are some pointers for each topic to guide your discussions:
- Opinions about 21st Century India:
– Discuss the writer’s opinions on India’s consumerist culture and development.
– Analyze whether these opinions reflect the current situation in India.
– Debate whether you agree or disagree with the writer’s views.
– Gather examples from contemporary India to support or refute these opinions.
- Critique of Development Based on Free Market:
– Identify the arguments presented by the writer against development based on the free market.
– Discuss the implications of these arguments on economic and social sustainability.
– Consider alternative models of development that could be more sustainable.
– Analyze real-world examples where free market principles have succeeded or failed.
- Agreeing with Thoreau’s Observation:
– Discuss the meaning of Thoreau’s observation regarding wealth and necessity.
– Debate whether you agree that excessive consumerism leads to wastefulness and ecological harm.
– Explore examples where pursuit of wealth has conflicted with human or environmental well-being.
– Discuss personal and societal responsibilities in balancing material needs with spiritual or ethical values.
- Understanding Thoreau’s Observation on Superfluous Wealth:
– Interpret Thoreau’s statement about the limitations of wealth in satisfying essential human needs.
– Discuss examples of how material wealth can contribute to or detract from personal fulfillment.
– Explore the concept of ‘necessities of the soul’ and what these might entail beyond material possessions.
– Consider how societal priorities and individual choices align with or challenge Thoreau’s philosophical stance.
VI.A. SPEAKING ACTIVITIES: in Groups of four each.
1.Here’s a game to test your skills of persuasion. You should not use pen and paper. Communicate orally. Problem: A farmer bought a pair of bullocks for Rs. 6000/-, sold it for Rs.7000/-, bought again for Rs.8000/- and sold again for Rs. 9000/- . Did he gain or lose? And how much?
ANSWER;-
Problem: A farmer bought a pair of bullocks for Rs. 6000/-, sold it for Rs. 7000/-, bought again for Rs. 8000/- and sold again for Rs. 9000/-. Did he gain or lose? And how much?
– Persuasion Approach: Participants should argue orally without using pen and paper.
Possible Approach:
– The farmer initially spends Rs. 6000 to buy the bullocks.
– Selling them for Rs. 7000, he gains Rs. 1000 (7000 – 6000).
– Buying them back for Rs. 8000, his total expenditure becomes Rs. 14000 (6000 + 8000).
– Selling them for Rs. 9000, he gains Rs. 1000 again (9000 – 8000).
Conclusion: The farmer gains Rs. 2000 in total (1000 + 1000).
2.Debate Topic: “Globalization is the only answer to development!” or “Advertisements are sweet lies”
ANSWER:-
For the Debate:
– Opening Statements: “I strongly support the view that globalization is essential for development because…”
– Counter Arguments: “It is unrealistic to say that globalization alone can solve all development issues…”
– Rebuttal: “I would like to draw attention to the benefits of interconnected economies…”
– Conclusion: “On the contrary, globalization promotes cultural exchange and economic growth.”
Against the Debate:
– Opening Statements: “I oppose the idea that globalization is the sole solution to development…”
– Counter Arguments: “It’s unrealistic to ignore the negative impacts of globalization on local economies…”
– Rebuttal: “I feel strongly that advertisements often mislead consumers with exaggerated claims…”
– Conclusion: “It is more reasonable to regulate advertisements to protect consumer interests.”
X.GRAMMAR REVISITED :
A.Combine each sequence of sentences below into a complex sentence by using at least one noun clause. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.
1.i) He tells me.
ii) He distrusts his own sons.
iii) It is difficult to understand his reason.
He tells me that he distrusts his own sons, which is difficult to understand.
He tells me that he distrusts his own sons, which is difficult to understand
2.i) Someone said this.
ii) History is a record of dates and battles.
iii) This ignores most of history’s significance.
iv) This makes history merely a list of selected events.
Someone said this, ignoring most of history’s significance, which makes history merely a list of selected events.
3.i) A restaurant becomes a five star restaurant.
ii) This means the restaurant has consistently maintained superior standards.
iii) The standards are of quality in food and service
When a restaurant becomes a five-star restaurant, it means that the restaurant has consistently maintained superior standards in food and service.
4i) The earth’s climate changes.
ii) The earth’s climate even now may be changing rapidly.
iii) This is widely recognized.
The fact that the earth’s climate changes, which is widely recognized, may be changing rapidly even now.
5.i) He pretended to be one of us.
ii) He took part in all our pranks.
iii) This helped hide his identity.
iv) He was a policeman
Pretending to be one of us and taking part in all our pranks helped hide his identity, although he was a policeman.
B.Combine each sequence of sentences below into a complex sentence by using at least one adjective/relative clause. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.
1.i) Walden Pond is now the site of many tourist stands.
ii) Walden Pond was once admired by Thoreau for its natural beauty.
iii) Henry David Thoreau built himself a solitary hut on the shore of Walden.
iv) He lived there for two and a half years
Walden Pond, which is now the site of many tourist stands, was once admired by Thoreau for its natural beauty, where Henry David Thoreau built himself a solitary hut on the shore and lived there for two and a half years.
2.i) Alcohol, a drying agent, is frequently used in cosmetics.
ii) The drying agent evaporates rapidly.
iii) The drying agent therefore has a cooling effect
Alcohol, which is a drying agent frequently used in cosmetics, evaporates rapidly, thereby having a cooling effect.
3i) The roller-coaster is still one of the most exciting rides.
ii) The rides are in an amusement park.
iii) The roller-coaster made its appearance in 1884.
The roller-coaster, which made its appearance in 1884, is still one of the most exciting rides in the amusement park.
4.i) The man shoved the woman into a car.
ii) The man was fat.
iii) The man had a nasal voice.
iv) The woman was startled.
v) The man mistakenly thought the woman was about to have a baby.
The fat man, who had a nasal voice, shoved the startled woman into a car, mistakenly thinking she was about to have a baby.
5.i) A cottager and his wife had a hen.
ii) The hen laid an egg everyday.
iii) They were lucky.
iv) The egg was golden.
The cottager and his wife, who were lucky, had a hen that laid a golden egg every day.
C.Combine each sequence of sentences below into a complex sentence by using at least one adverbial clause. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.
1.i) Suppose there isn’t any cake.
ii) Suppose there aren’t any friends around.
iii) A birthday cannot really be fun.
iv) His birthday is on 4th January. If there is no cake and if there are no friends, his birthday on 4th January cannot really be fun.
If there is no cake and if there aren’t any friends around, his birthday on 4th January cannot really be fun.
2.i) The experiences were sung about in poems.
ii) The poems were written by the pupils.
iii) The pupils were between the ages of 70 and 90.
iv) The pupils were residents in a nursing home.
The experiences, which were sung about in poems written by the pupils who were residents in a nursing home between the ages of 70 and 90.
3.i) Poet Kenneth Koch would teach folk poetry.
ii) He hoped to free them from bonds.
iii) The bonds were cruel.
iv) The bonds were of growing old.
v) He hoped to free them for moments, at least
Poet Kenneth Koch would teach folk poetry to free them from bonds that were cruel, of growing old, and for moments, at least.
4.i) “Good evening. I am Count Dracula.”
ii) Bela Lugosi’s voice chilled theatre goers.
iii) His voice is now famous.
iv) Then, it ushered in the modern Dracula era.
v) He did this 70 years ago.
When Bela Lugosi’s voice chilled theatergoers, saying, “Good evening. I am Count Dracula,” it ushered in the modern Dracula era, which is now famous, 70 years ago.
5.i) The train arrived at the station.
ii) A man sprang out of one of the carriages on to the platform.
iii) His clothes were torn.
iv) They were stained with blood.
v) The policeman saw this
As the train arrived at the station, a man sprang out of one of the carriages onto the platform, where the policeman saw his torn and blood-stained clothes.
COORDINATION: Simple to Compound Note:We use coordination to suggest that the two clauses are logically related but neither has more weight than the other. Combine each sequence of sentences below into a compound sentence using at least two main clauses. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest
1.i) Some species of whales are nearing extinction.
ii) Many countries refuse to accept even a partial ban on whale hunting.
Some species of whales are nearing extinction and yet many countries refuse to accept even a partial ban on whale hunting.
2.i) In private life he was kind.
ii) In private life he was even generous.
iii) In public life he was severe.
iv) In public life he administered strict justice.
In private life, he was kind and even generous, but in public life, he was severe and administered strict justice.
3.i) He does not study.
ii) He does not allow his friends to study.
iii) That’s why many of his friends avoid him.
He does not study and he does not allow his friends to study, so many of his friends avoid him.
4.i) You may not care for wealth.
ii) You may not care for fame.
iii) You shall have to care for truth.
iv) Life without truth is a degraded life.
You may not care for wealth or fame, but you shall have to care for truth, for life without truth is a degraded life.
5.i) I shall not oppose your plan of action.
ii) I cannot approve of it
I shall not oppose your plan of action, but I cannot approve of it.
XI.FUN WITH LANGUAGE: Punctuation Puzzles
Here’s an analysis of the differences in meaning due to punctuation:
1.a) I left him convinced he was a fool.
b) I left him, convinced he was a fool.
Which sentence shows extraordinary powers of persuasion?
– Sentence a) shows extraordinary powers of persuasion because it implies the speaker convinced the person they were a fool.
Sentence b) means the speaker left because they were convinced the person was a fool.
2.a) Shall I stick the stamps on myself?
b) Shall I stick the stamps on, myself?
Which of the two will require a lot of postage?
– Sentence a)will require a lot of postage because it suggests the speaker is asking if they should stick the stamps on their own body. Sentence b) asks if the speaker should stick the stamps on something else.
3.a) A clever dog knows its master.
b) A clever dog knows it’s master.
In which case has the dog the upper hand?
– Sentence b) suggests the dog has the upper hand because “it’s master” (it is master) implies the dog is the master.
4.a) He ate a half-fried chicken.
b) He ate a half-fried chicken.
Which would be followed by stomach disorder?*
– Sentence a) implies the chicken was not fully cooked, leading to a potential stomach disorder. (Note: The sentences are the same, but punctuation like hyphens or commas can change the interpretation in different contexts.)
5.a) Go slow – children.
b) Go slow, children.
Which is a warning to drivers?
-Sentence a) is a warning to drivers, indicating they should go slow because of children.
– Sentence b)is addressing children, telling them to go slow.
6.a) The officers ate chicken, their wives, vegetables.
b) The officers ate chicken; their wives, vegetables.
Which would suggest cannibalism?
– Sentence a) suggests cannibalism because it implies the officers ate chicken and their wives.
-Sentence b) indicates the officers ate chicken, and their wives ate vegetables.
7.a) Students’ protest gains.
b) Students protest gains.
Which of the two suggests that the student force is becoming strong?
– Sentence a) suggests the student force is becoming strong because their protest is gaining momentum.
Sentence b) means the students are protesting against gains.
- a) The dictator, who was recently ousted by the citizens and his wife arrived in Hawaii yesterday.
b)The dictator, who was recently ousted by the citizens, and his wife, arrived in Hawaii yesterday.
In which of the two cases is the dictator feeling worse?
– Sentence b) implies the dictator is feeling worse because both he and his wife were ousted. Sentence **a)** suggests the dictator was ousted, and his wife arrived separately.
- a) The film ended, happily.
- b) The film ended happily.
In which case was the audience apparently bored?
– Sentence a) suggests the audience was bored and relieved the film ended.
-Sentence b) means the film had a happy ending.
- a) My wife, who lives in Hong Kong, is arriving tomorrow.
b)My wife who lives in Hong Kong is arriving tomorrow.
Which of the two suggests that the speaker is a polygamist?
– Sentence b) suggests the speaker is a polygamist because it implies the speaker has more than one wife, specifying the one who lives in Hong Kong.
Sentence a) identifies the speaker’s only wife who lives in Hong Kong.